Gregory Campbell finished his shift on a broken leg during last spring's playoffs, and has played every game this season.

By Dan CagenDaily News staff

April 4, 2014
5:46 p.m.

Gregory Campbell shied away from all the attention last summer after becoming a folk hero for finishing a shift on a broken leg during last season’s playoffs. At autograph events, he even declined to sign photos from the famous shift.

He’ll have a little more attention sent in his direction after being nominated by the Boston chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association for the Masterton Trophy, which is awarded to the player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey.”

One player will be nominated from each team and the PHWA will vote on all 30. The winner will be named from three finalists at the league’s awards ceremony in June.

Campbell’s leg was broken June 5 on a slapshot by Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. With the Bruins shorthanded, Campbell completed his shift for 45 more seconds, even getting his stick in the passing lane to disrupt the Penguins’ attack.

“Well, I guess it made me realize how lucky I am to play and to be a part of this league and this team," Campbell said Saturday. "The toughest part of the injury was missing games in the playoffs and not having a chance to play for the Stanley Cup. I’m very fortunate I was able to come back and realize that your health is extremely precious, so I’m grateful I’ve been able to play all the games this year.”

The moment has become iconic to hockey fans, emblematic of the grit and determination not only of the fourth-liner, but, fairly or unfairly, of hockey players in general. Campbell's teammates held up his team-first example throughout their playoff run.

Campbell had surgery less than a week later, where a rod and screws were inserted to stabilize the right leg. After a summer of rehab, Campbell was in the Boston lineup for Game 1 of the regular season Oct. 3, less than four months after the injury. He’s played in all 77 games, one of only five Bruins who can make that claim.

"I guess I’m very thankful for the recognition of what it takes to come back from an injury," he said. "It’s not an easy thing and it’s something that we all sign up for when we play hockey is the risk of having an injury. But having said that, when I look at the list of past and present nominees and winners, there’s been a lot of inspiring and courageous people that have been nominated and won this award. I feel like there’s been far greater challenges that these guys have overcome, so a broken leg to me isn’t much."

After a slow start while his body continued to recover, Campbell has had a strong second half. The fourth-line center has seven goals and 12 assists, four of his goals coming since the Olympic break.

In recent years voters have been instructed to consider more than just players returning from extreme or unusual injuries and/or ailments, and to factor in the other criteria for the award, including sportsmanship and dedication.

Campbell is often among the last Bruins to leave the ice after practice. He routinely works on tipping pucks and faceoffs when most of his teammates are gone.

The 30-year-old son of former NHL player and coach and current league executive Colin Campbell has also made it a tradition to donate pies on Thanksgiving. He delivered 400 this past Turkey Day to local charities and shelters.

Adam McQuaid was the Bruins’ nominee last season, with the trophy going to Minnesota goaltender Josh Harding.